Curtain heading tape



Aug. 1954 E. THORP CURTAIN HEADING TAPE Filed Feb. :5, 1955 5 mm m mm m 7 Y B Patented Aug. 17, 1954 CURTAIN HEADING TAPE Eric Thorp,

Bronxville, N. Y., assignor to Roger French and George Frederick French, both of Hale, England Application February 3, 1953, Serial No. 334,856

14 Claims. 1

This invention relates to curtain heading tapes. More particularly it is concerned with a curtain heading tape which may be arranged in pleats of varied sizes and fixed in such arrangement by the insertion of certain types of suspension hooks in the hook tubes thereof. Hence when the curtain heading tape of the invention is secured to a curtain, the curtain may be arranged in folds or pleats of predetermined size and fixed in such arrangement by the insertion of the suspension hooks. The invention is also concerned with certain types of curtains or draperies to which a curtain heading tape of the aforementioned variety has been secured.

A curtain heading tape according to the in vention comprises a relatively wide back tape and a narrower front tape connected to the back tape at spaced intervals, as by binding in, to form alternately long and short portions of the front tape unconnected to the back tape. The short, unconnected portions of the front tape form with the opposite portions of the backtape hook tubes adapted to receive suspension hooks. A draw cord pierces the front tape at spaced intervals, passing in and out therethrough throughout the length of the tape.

Adjacent the hook tube portions of the tape, the draw cord passes in front of the short, unconnected portions of the narrower front tape, whereas it passes in and out a number of times through each long, unconnected portion of such narrow front tape. Advantageously the draw cord does not pass at any time through the wide back tape. When the draw cord is pulled, the long, unconnected portions of the front tape are formed into concertina-like folds and the sections of the back tape opposite such long unconnected portions of the front tape are each formed into a single fold or pleat.

In order to employ the above curtain heading tape most advantageously, it is contemplated that suspension hooks will be used which, when inserted in the hook tubes, will have a section thereof passing between the front and back tapes and a second section in relatively close proximity to the first-mentioned section which will lie in front of the front tape and engage the draw cord, pressing it against the front tape, thereby locking it against movement relative to the front tape. To insure a proper and relatively easy insertion of such a suspension hook in the hook tubes, the draw cord which passes, as previously mentioned, in front of the short, unconnected portions of the narrow front tape, is tacked into the face of such portions of the narrow front tape. This tacking does not prevent or in any way hinder pulling of the draw cord but does prevent movement thereof relative tothe front tape in a vertical direction or, in other words, in a direction transverse the direction of pull of the drawing cord.

A further aspect of the invention is the combination of the aforementioned curtain heading tape with curtains or draperies which are relatively stiff or rigid in a substantially vertical direction, that is, in the direction longitudinally of the folds that are to be formed therein. An example of such a curtain is one made up of thin bamboo slats or strips secured together side by side, usually by being received in the loops of a multi-strand thread. Such bamboo cur tains are fairly well known for use with the slats extending in a horizontal direction and are drawn by being rolled. However, the use of such curtain material with the slats adapted to extend in a vertical direction is becoming increasingly popular and such curtains are drawn in the same manner as are the more familiar textile variety. One problem, however, is encountered which is due to the rigidity of the material in the vertical direction. Hence it is diflicult when such curtains are provided with standard curtain heading tapes to insert the suspension hooks in the riders, for instance, of a traverse rod. This difficulty can be overcome if the hook tube sections of the curtain heading tape are not themselves secured to the curtain. Hence the invention further contemplates a curtain heading tape in which the narrow front tape is secured to the back tape along one edge thereof and the back tape is adapted to be secured to the curtain at or adjacent its opposite edge.

Of course it will be understood from the above that the invention contemplates the use of the novel curtain heading tape in combination with any type of curtain or drapery. However, for a more detailed understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following more specific description of one embodiment thereof employed in combination with a bamboo type curtain. The single figure of the drawing shows in perspective a portion of a bamboo type curtain with a preferred form of curtain heading tape secured thereto.

In the drawing there is illustrated a curtain ll) of the bamboo type made up of a number of thin bamboo slats or strips I extending in parallel relation to one another and secured together at spaced intervals along their length by groups of threads l2. Usually the threads in such groups are woven together to form loops adapted to receive a single bamboo strip. However, the manner in which the curtain itself is made plays no part in the present invention, it sufiicing that the bamboo strips extend in a vertical direction whereby the curtain may be readily arranged in folds spaced horizontally of one another.

The curtain heading tape comprises a relatively wide back tape i3 and a relatively narrow front tape is preferably bound into the back tape at spaced intervals as at l5, Iii and if to form long, unconnected portions l8 and short, unconnected portions 19, the latter forming with the opposite portions of the back tape hooks tubes indicated generally at 26. A draw cord 23 is passed in and out of the front tape, piercing each long, unconnected portion i8 thereof a number of times. The draw cord M, as may be clearly seen, passes in front of the short, unconnected portions [9 which partially form the hook tubes 20. For a. purpose which will be further explained hereinafter, the draw cord is tacked to the front of the short, unconnected portions IQ of the narrow front tape it as at T. This tacking T may be advantageously accomplished by passing the draw cord behind a number of picks (two is sufficient) of the weft of the narrow front tape at about the center of each short, unconnected portion is thereof.

Because of the difficulty that has heretofore been encountered in hanging curtains of the type illustrated when heretofore known types of ourtain heading tape have been employed, the narrow front tape of the present curtain heading tape is secured to the back tape in the manner heretofore discussed along the upper edge thereof. The composite tape is in turn secured to the bamboo curtain it by sewing, or in any other known manner securing, the lower edge thereof to the curtain as at 24, 25.

One type of suspension hook indicated generally at 3!} is illustrated by which the curtain may be hung. Such a hook is not in itself broadly new, a similar one having been disclosed in French et al. Patent 2,518,301 issued August 8, 1950, to the same assignees to whom this application is assigned. The suspension hook 3i! is made up substantially of theree sections, a first section 3| being adapted to engage the rider of a curtain supporting means, a second section 32 adapted when the hook is in place to lie within a hook tube 29, and a third section made up of two portions 33 and 34 adapted, when the hook is in place, to lie in front of the short hook tube portion of the front narrow tape and in front of the section of the draw cord 23 opposite such portion of the front tape. Portions 33 and 3d of the suspension hook 30 are located relatively close to section 32 thereof and hence, when the suspension hook is in place, press tightly against the draw cord and lock it in place.

In use, the curtain heading tape with both members It and hi thereof in substantially fully extended position is sewn or otherwise secured to a curtain which is also in extended, flat position. For the purpose of a complete explanation, it will be assumed that such curtain is of a width somewhat greater than the space, aperture, window, etc. which it is to cover when drawn closed. To arrange the curtain with the attached curtain heading tape for use in covering such an aperture, the width of the aperture to be covered is measured and the draw cord pulled out of the curtain heading tape a distance equal to the difference between the width of the cur- ,tain fiat and the width of the aperture to be covered. The draw cord is then knotted. The curtain and the curtain heading tape are then arranged on the available length of draw cord in folds or pleats of desired size (usually uniform). The back tape l3 of course is folded or pleated in a manner identical to the folding or pleating of the curtain Hi, whereas the narrow front tape it is formed in groups of concertinalike folds opposite the folds of the curtain and back tape. In order to fix or lock in place this folding or pleating of the curtain, hooks 30 are inserted. The insertion of a hook is a relatively simple matter. As indicated in connection with the hook shown to the right in the drawing, section 3! thereof is inserted in a hook tube 213 from the bottom thereof. This section 3! is then turned downwardly as indicated by the dotted arrow a until it reaches a position similar to that of the suspension hook shown to the left in the drawing.

During this rotation of the suspension hook, the section 32 thereof becomes inserted in the hook tube and the portions 33 and 35 move upwardly in front of the hook tube and in front of the draw cord. The draw cord is thus tightly engaged and is prevented henceforth from moving relative to the hook tube. In order to assure the proper engagement of the suspension hook with the draw cord, the draw cord is, as previously indicated, tacked into the narrow front tape substantially centrally of the hook tube portion thereof. This prevents the draw cord from being pushed upwardly during insertion of a suspension hook, in which case it might not be properly engaged and locked in place.

In the foregoing description and in the following claims, directional terms are employed, for instance, up, down, vertical and horizontal. These terms have been employed merely to facilitate the description of the invention and are relative only.

Various changes and modifications will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore the invention should not be limited except to the extent set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a curtain of relatively rigid material in a vertical direction but relatively flexible in a horizontal direction, and a curtain heading tape comprising a wide substantially horizontal back tape secured along one of its edge portions only to said curtain, a narrow front tape connected to the back tape at spaced intervals forming alternately long and short portions of said front tape unconnected to said back tape, said front tape being secured to said back tape at a portion thereof other than said aforementioned edge portion, whereby the portion of the back tape to which the front tape is secured may be moved away from the curtain, the short porticns of said front tape partially forming hook tubes, and a draw cord passing in and out through said narrow front tape.

2. The combination according to claim 1 in which the front tape is secured to the back tape substantially at the edge portion thereof which is opposite the edge portion that is secured to the curtain.

3. The combination according to claim 2 in which the draw cord passes in and out through the front tape only.

4. The combination according to claim 2 in which the draw cord passes in front of the short unconnected portions of the front tape which partially form hook tubes.

5. The combination according to claim 4 which includes a suspension hook inserted in each hook tube, said suspension hook having a hanger-engaging section lying in front of and spaced from the front tape, a section received in the hook tube behind the front tape, and a cord-locking section lying in front of the front tape but in close proximity thereto and in engagement with the draw cord.

6. The combination according to claim 4 in which the draw cord is tacked into the front face of each short unconnected portion of the front tape.

'7. The combination according to claim 6 which includes a suspension hook inserted in each hook tube, said suspension hook having a hanger-engaging section lying in front of and spaced from the front tape, a section received in the hook tube behind the front tape, and a cord-locking section lying in front of the front tape but in close proximity thereto and in engagement with the draw cord.

3. A curtain heading tape comprising a wide back tape, a narrow front tape connected to the back tape at spaced intervals to form alternately long and short portions of said front tape unconnected to said back tape, said front tape being secured to said back tape substantially along one edge portion of the back tape, the short unconnected portions of the front tape partially forming hook tubes, and a draw cord passing in and out through said front tape and at least partially in front of said short unconnected portions of the front tape.

9. A curtain heading tape according to claim 8 in which the draw cord passes in and out through only the front tape.

10. A curtain heading tape according to claim 8 in which the draw cord passes substantially wholly in front of the short unconnected portions of the front tape.

11. A curtain heading tape according to claim 8 in which the draw cord passes in and out through only the front tape and in which the draw cord passes substantially wholly in front of the short unconnected portions of the front tape.

12. A curtain heading tape according to claim 11 in which the draw cord is tacked into the central portion of each short unconnected portion of the front tape to prevent relative movement of the draw cord with respect to the front tape in a direction transverse the longitudinal extent of the front tape but permitting relative movement of the draw cord with respect to the narrow front tape longitudinally thereof.

13. A curtain heading tape comprising a wide back tape, a narrow front tape connected to the back tape at spaced intervals to form alternately long and short portions of said front tape unconnected to said back tape, the short unconnected portions of the front tape partially forming hook tubes, and a draw cord passing in and out through said front tape and at least partially in front of said short unconnected portions of the front tape.

14. A curtain heading tape according to claim 13 in which the draw cord passes in and out through only the front tape and in which the draw cord passes substantially wholly in front of the short unconnected portions of the front tape.

Name Date French Aug. 8,1950

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